Sexual difficulties are more common for women than for men. Fortunately, they are also treatable!

Sexual health issues are common for women and men at different times in their lives. Our sexual health can change due to various reasons: stress, aging, overall health, medical conditions, our mindset, cultural differences, among others.  Sexual health issues can prevent an individual or couple from experiencing satisfaction from sexual activity. Difficulties related to sexual arousal, desire, orgasm are prevalent: indeed about 43% of women and 31% of men report some degree of sexual difficulty. Still, sexual health is a topic that many people are hesitant or embarrassed to discuss. Fortunately, most of these issues are treatable. Whatever it is, you can help about skills, strategies and resources to deal with it and find a new way of living. If you are facing any of the issues below, we can help you.

Here are the common sexual challenges faced by women:

• Hypoactive sexual desire: low libido, loss of interest in sex
• Sexual arousal disorder: your mind and body are not on the same level: if your mind wants sex, your body is not responding; or when your body get excited about sex, your mind is not into it.
• Anorgasmia or orgasmic disorder: when the climax does not happen, and you do not know why.
• Sexual aversion disorder: lack of interest in sex with physical reaction to sexual contact (creating fear, anxiety and disgust).
• Hypersexuality or compulsive sexual behavior: when desire becomes a compulsion and it stops feeling like a choice. This is not sex addiction.
• Dyspareunia: pain during intercourse, whether at the entrance or deeper inside.
• Vaginismus: the pelvic floor muscles reflexively and involuntarily clamp up when something (t tries to enter the vagina (such as tampons, fingers, sex toys, or penetrative sex).
• Vulvodynia: when there is chronic pain, burning, stinging around the vulva that often comes without a diagnosis because medical tests come back as “normal”.
• Vaginal atrophy: when hormones shift, especially after menopause, and the vaginal tissues start to change, becoming thinner, drier and more fragile.
• Endometriosis or pelvic adhesions: internal pail that feels sharp, shocking at a deeper level, especially during deeper penetration, leaving you bracing for impact. There is no superficial burning or itchiness, and you may have spotting after penetration.
• Sexual issues due to the impact of medications, past sexual trauma, and chronic conditions (cancer, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, etc.).

Though these issues are common, they are not simple. And it certainly does not make them your fault. To move towards healing, we need to work with the emotional, physical and relational layers that can lead to desire, trust, and self-worth. We can help with these factors through individual counseling, yoga/somatic therapy, and couples counseling.

Feel free to schedule an appointment with our team of therapists HERE. We have an AASECT Sex Therapist, an expert yoga professional, and a therapist intern that was previously a sexual health nurse. Together, we can help you address your issues. We will work with your physician in a confidential manner, if necessary.

Learn about our webinars and workshops just for women!